Low-foaming rinsing,washing and cleaning compositions

ABSTRACT

LOW-FOAMING RINSING WASHING AND CLEANING COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING (A) FROM 90% TO 99.9% BY WEIGHT OF AT LEAST ONE COMPOUND HAVING A CLEANING OR COMPLEXING ACTION AND (B) FROM 0.1% TO 10% BY WEIGHT OF AT LEAST ONE FOAM-INHIBITING ISOCYANURATE OF THE FORMULA   2,4,6-TRI(O=),1-R1,3-R3,5-R2-PERHYDRO-S-TRIAZINE   WHEREIN R1, R2 AND R3 ARE IDENTICAL OR DIFFERENT ALIPHATIC, CYLOALIPHATIC OR ALKYLAROMATIC HYDROCARBON RADICALS HAVING FROM 8 TO 30 CARBON ATOMS.

United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 252-98 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions comprising (a) from 90% to 99.9% by weight of at least one compound having a cleaning or complexing action and (b) from 0.1% to by weight of at least one foam-inhibiting isocyanurate of the formula wherein R R and R are identical or different aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or alkylaromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 8 to 30 carbon atoms.

THE PRIOR ART It is known that non-ionic detergent substances especially those based on polyglycol ethers, have a low-foaming power. The foam-inhibting properties of these compounds, however, are often not sufficient adequate to reduce the foam formation of such washing and cleaning agents which contain highly foaming tensides of the sulfate or sulfonate type. It has been, therefore, suggested to add fatty acids with more than 18 carbon atoms as foam inhibitors. The effect of these fatty acids is, however, limited to tensides of the sulfonate type and depends, in addition, upon the hardness of the water used for the preparation of the cleaning solution. The silicones widely used as foam inhibitors are less suitable for washing and cleansing agents since they have a hydrophobizing effect on the cleaned objects and can be removed only with difiiculty from the substrate.

Also in the use of tenside-free complexing polyphosphates or of tenside-free softeners containing organic complexing agents which can be used for the removal of incrustations from textiles and washing machines, supply pipes and electric water heaters, considerable disturbances may occur through foam formation. Deposited organic impurities, such as proteins or fatty substances, lime-soap residues or traces of detergents are held responsible for the foam formation.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide washing, rinsing and cleaning agents which, compared with the known agents, have an improved anti-foaming action independent of the nature and composition of the foaming compounds as well as of the hardness of the water, have no negative effect on the cleaning action of the agents or on the usefulness of the cleaned substrate, are effective in small concentrations, and overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide low-foamice ing rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions comprising (A) from to 99.9% by weight of at least one active compound selected from the group consisting of cleaning compounds and complexing compounds, and (B) from 0.1% to 10% by weight of a foam inhibitor selected from the group consisting of (1) at least one foam-inhibiting isocyanurate of the formula wherein R R and R are members having '8 to 30 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkylcycloalkyl and alkylphenyl and (2) mixtures of said at least one foam-inhibiting isocyanurate with at least one alkylated urea of the formula wherein R and R are members having 8 to 30 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkylcycloalkyl and alkylphenyl, and R and R are members selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydrocarbonyls having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkylcycloalkyl and alkylphenyl, the weight ratio of said foam-inhibiting isocyanurate and said alkylated urea in said mixture being from :1 to 1:100.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention, therefore, comprises low-foaming Washing, rinsing and cleaning agents which are characterized in that they contain (a) from 90% to 99.9% of at least one compound having a cleaning or complexing action and (b) from 0.1% to 10% by weight of at least one foam-inhibiting isocyanurate of the formula wherein R R and R are identical or different aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or alkylaromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 8 to 30 carbon atoms.

The hydrocarbon radicals, R R and R, can be straightchain or branched, saturated or unsaturated and contain preferably 12 to 24 carbon atoms. Examples for suitable radicals are alkyls and alkenyls such as lauryl, myristyl, cetyl, stearyl, arachyl, behenyl, lignoceryl, palmitoleyl, and oleyl, also such which derive from the hydrocarbon radicals occurring in natural fats, such as coconut, tallow, rape oil, palm kernel, soybean oil, cotton-seed oil, peanut oil, or olive oil fatty acids or from their hydrogenation products. Also hydrocarbon radicals obtainable from paraffin hydrocarbons or synthetically, for example, by ethylene or propylene polymerization or oxosynthesis are suitable. In addition alkylcycloalkyl and alkylphenyl radicals are suitable such as dodecylcyclohexyl and dodecylphenyl.

The preparation of the isocyanurates can be carried out in any way, for instance, by reaction of alkali metal cyanates with halogen hydrocarbons or alkylsulfates. Of particular practical interest are agents in which the foam-in hibiting isocyanurates are present in a mixture with urea derivatives of the formula R Ru in which R; and R represent hydrocarbon radicals with 8 to 30 carbon atoms, and R and R, represent hydrogen or hydrocarbon radicals with 1 to 30 carbon atoms. The radicals R and R or R and R, can be identical or different, straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated, or also cycloaliphatic or alkylaromatic. Preferably dialkylurea or dialkenylurea compounds are used in which R; and R represent straight-chain, saturated or singly unsaturated hydrocarbon radicals with 12 to 24 carbon atoms and the radicals R and R hydrogen. The radicals R and R can be derived from fatty acids of natural or synthetic origin. Examples are lauryl, myristyl, cetyl, stearyl, arachyl, behenyl, lignoceryl, palmitoleyl, and oleyl, also their mixtures, such as they are present, e.g., in coconut, tallow, rape oil, palm kernel oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, tall oil, peanut oil, or fish oil fatty acids or their hydrogenation products. The radicals can also be derived from paraffin hydrocarbons, olefin polymerizates, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polybutylene as well as from compounds obtained by oxo-synthesis. In addition, alkylcycloalkyl and alkylphenyl radicals are suitable such as dodecylcyclohexyl and dodecylphenyl.

Preferably the rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions of the invention are low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions comprising (A) from 90% to 99.9% by weight of at least one active compound selected from the group consisting of cleaning compounds and complexing compounds, and (B) from 0.1% to by weight of a foam inhibitor selected from the group consisting of (l) at least one foam-inhibiting isocyanurate of the formula wherein R R and R, are members having 8 to 30 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkylcycloalkyl and alkylphenyl and (2) mixtures of said at least one foam-inhibiting isocyanurate with at least one alkylated urea of the formula wherein R and R are members having 8 to 30 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkylcycloalkyl and alkylphenyl, and R and R are members selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydrocarbonyls having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkylcycloalkyl and alkylphenyl, the weight ratio of said foaminhibiting isocyanurate and said alkylated urea in said mixture being from 100:1 to 1:100.

The preparation of the dialkyl or tetraal-kylureas can be carried out in a manner, in itself known, for instance by alkylation of urea with primary or secondary alkylhalides, dialkylsulfates, or monoor dialkylamines. The urea derivatives can be admixed with the trialkyl iso cyanurates, or together with them added to the cleansing agents.

Preferably, however, mixtures of trialkyl isocyanurates and dialkylureas are used as they are directly obtainable by reaction of urea with monoalkylamines in the mol ratio 1:2 or by reaction of alkylhalides with potassium cyanate in polar aprotic solvents. The reaction of urea with alkylamines can be carried out by heating the mixture for several hours at temperatures between 150 and 250 0., preferably 180 to .200" C. Potassium cyanate and alkylhalides can, for instance, be reacted in dimethyl formamide by heating for several hours at temperatures from 100 to 150 C. The weight ratio of trialkyl isocyanurates to dialkylureas is in a range from 100:1 to 1:100, preferably from 50:1 to 1:20.

The mixtures obtainable by the reaction of alkylamines and urea at elevated temperatures, may optionally contain also further condensation products, such as alkylated biurets and triurets. These side products, present in low amounts, also have foam inhibiting properties and can support the tiralkyl isocyanurates and dialkylureas in their effect. It has been found that trialkyl isocyanurates, acting as foam inhibitors, or their mixtures with dialkylureas in which the alkyl radicals have 10 to 14 carbon atoms have their optimum anti-foaming effect in the temperature range of from 20 C. to 60 C. If the alkyl groups have 16 and more, particularly 18 to 22 carbon atoms, the maximum foam inhibition is altered to the range of from 60 C. to 100 C. By appropriate selection or combination of foam inhibitors with different alkyl groups, the foaming behavior of the washing, cleansing, and softening agents can, therefore, be directed arbitrarily and be adjusted to the various requirements.

The amounts of foam inhibitors to be used depend upon the amount of foaming or detergent substance present in the final composition and/ or on the substrate to be cleaned as well as upon the magnitude of the desired effect. The practically important concentrations applied extend from 0.1% to 10%, preferably from 0.2% to 5% by weight, based on the solid composition. It is, of course, possible to work with still larger amounts, for instance, up to 25% by weight and more. This, however, is not required in the practice.

The foam inhibitors can be mixed with the other washing, cleansing, and descaling agents in a conventional manner and can be processed together with them, for example, spray dried or granulated, or they can be converted by other known processes to solid, liquid or pasty mixtures. The foam inhibitor can also be mixed in molten or dissolved form with the other ingredients, present as powders or grauulates, or be sprayed or granulated on them. These other ingredients which are present in amounts from to 99.9%, preferably to 99.8% by Weight, consist of at least one washing, bleaching, or complexing compound, such as anionic, nonionic, amphoteric, or cationic surfaceactive substances, polymeric phosphates, complexing agents, as well as other non-surface active builders, oxygen-containing bleaching agents and other ingredients customarily present in such agents.

The washing and cleansing agents can also contain anionic basic detergent substances of the sulfonate or sulfate type. Primarily alkylbenzene sulfonates, for example, dodecylbenzene sulfonate are suitable, also olefin sulfonates, such as, for example, are obtained by sulfonation of primary and secondary aliphatic monoolefins with gaseous sulfur trioxide and subsequent alkaline or acidic hydrolysis as well as alkylsulfonates obtainable from n-alkanes by sulfochlorination or sulfoxidation and subsequent hydrolysis or neutralization, or by addition of bisulfite to olefins. Also suitable are a-sulfofatty acid esters, primary and secondary alkylsulfates and the sulfates of ethoxylated or propoxylated higher alcohols. Other compounds of this class which can be optionally present in the washing composition are the higher molecular weight sulfated partial ethers and partial esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as, the alkali metal salts of the monoalkylethers or mono fatty acid esters of glycerine monosulfuric acid esters or of the 1,2-dihydroxypropanesulfonic acid. Also sulfates of ethoxylated or propoxylated fatty amides and alkylphenols as well as fatty acid taurides and fatty acid isethionates are suitable. Other appropriate anionic basic detergent ingredients are alkali metal soaps of natural or synthetic fatty acids, such as, sodium soaps of coconut, palm kernel, or tallow fatty acids. As amphoteric detergent components, alkyl betaines and particularly alkyl sulfobetaines are suitable, for example, 3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-alkylammonium)-propane-l-sulfonate and 3-(N,N-dimethyl-N- alkyl-ammonium)-2-hydroxypropane-l-sulfonate.

The anionic basic detergent ingredients can be present in the form of their alkali metal salts such as the sodium, potassium, and ammonium salt, as well as salts of organic bases, such as mono, di, and triethanolamine. Inasmuch as the named anionic and amphoteric compounds have an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical, the latter should preferably be straight-chained and should have from 8 to 22 carbon atoms. In the compounds with araliphatic hydrocarbon radicals, such as alkylphenyl radicals, the prefererd straight alkyl chains contain an average of from 6 to 16 carbon atoms.

As nonionic surface-active basic detergent ingredients, primarily suitable are the polyglycolether derivatives of alcohols, fatty acids and alkylphenols which contain 3 to 30 glycoether groups and 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon radical. Particularly suitable are polyoxyethyleneglycolether derivatives in which the number of oxyethylene groups is 5 to and whose hydrocarbon radicals are derived from straight-chain primary alcohols with 12 to 1-8 carbon atoms, or from alkylphenols with a straight-chain alkyl chain of 6 to 14 carbon atoms. By the addition of 3 to 15 mols of propylene oxide to the last named polyethyleneglycolethers, or by converting them into acetals, detergents are obtained which are distinguished by a special low foaming power.

Other suitable nonionic basic detergent ingredients are the water soluble polyethylene oxide adducts, containing to 250 ethyleneglycolether groups and '10 to 100 propropyleneglycolether groups 'adducted to polypropylene glycol, ethylenediamine-polypropyleneglycol and alkylenepolypropyleneglycol with 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkylene chain. The compounds untilized usually contain 1 to 5 oxyethylene units per oxypropylene unit. Also suitable as nonionic compounds are those of the amine oxide and sulfoxide types, which, if necessary, can be ethoxylated.

Further, suitable components of the mixture include neutral salts, such as sodium sulfate and sodium chloride, as well as compounds regulating the pH value, such as the bicarbonates, carbonates, borates and hydroxides of the alkali metals, such as sodium or potassium, and acids such as lactic acid and citric acid. The amount of alkalinereac ting substances including the alkali metal silicates and phosphates should be such that the pH of a liquor utilizable for mechanical dishwashing machines and descaling of textiles, service pipes, washing machines and hot water heaters, amounts to 10 to 14, and in laundry machines for coarse washing, 9 to 12, and for fine washing, 6 to 9.

By a suitable combination of different surface-active basic detergent substances and builder salts with one another, increases in activity may be obtained in many cases, for example, an improved washing power or a reduced foaming capacity. Such improvements are possible, for example, by a combination of anionic compounds with nonionic and/or amphoteric compounds, by a combination of different nonionic compounds, or by mixtures of basic detergent substances of the same type which differ in regard to the number of carbon atoms or the number and position of double bonds or branching of chains in the hydrocarbon residue. Also mixtures of inorganic and organic builder salts with a synergistic action can be used or can be combined with the above-mentioned mixtures.

Depending on their use, the cleaning compositions of the invention may also contain oxygen-yielding or active chlorine-containing bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide, alkali metal perborates, alkali metal percarbonates, alkali metal perphosphates, urea perhydrate, alkali metal persulfates, alkali metal hypochlorites, chlorinated trisodium phosphate and chlorinated cyanuric acid and its alkali metal salts as well as bleaching agent activators and stabilizers such as magnesium silicate.

Further suitable components of the mixtures are optical brighteners for cellulosic fiber, for example, those of the diaminostilbenedisulfonic acid type according to the following formula:

. 1'. w t i r H Y S03- S03- Y in which X and Y represent the following: NH NI-ICH NHCH CH OH,

l Ar In the formula, Ar and Ar represent aryl residues, such as phenyl, diphenyl or naphthyl, which may carry further substituents such as hydroxy, alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, amino, alkylamino, acylamino, ca'rboxyl, sulfonic acid and sulfonamide groups or halogen atoms. 1,3-Diarylpyrazo lines are preferably used in which Ar is p-sulfonamidophenyl and Ar is p-chlorophenyl. In addition, whiteners suitable for the brightening of other types of fibers may be present, for example, such of the type of naphthotriazolestilbene sulfonates, ethylene bis benzimidazoles ethylene-bis-benzoxazoles, thiophene bis benzoxazoles, dialkylaminicoumarins, and cyanoanthracenes. These brighteners, or their mixtures, can be present in the washing composition in amounts from 0.01% to 1.5% by weight, preferably from 0.1% to 1% by weight. Further suitable mixture ingredients are anti-greying compounds, such as, sodium celluloseglycolate, as well as the watersoluble alkali metal salts of synthetic polymers which contain free carboxylic groups. To them belong the polyesters or the polyamides of triand tetracarboxylic acids and dihydric alcohols, or diamines, also polymeric acrylic, methacrylic, maleic, fumaric, itaconic, citraconic, and aconitic acids as well as the mixed polymerizates of the abovenamed unsaturated carboxylic acids, or their mixed polymerizates with olefins.

Washing agents for washing textiles may also contain restoring additives, for example fatty acid amides of diamines or hydroxyalkyldiamines.

For a further improvement of the dirt loosening properties of the washing and cleaning compositions of the invention, they may also contain enzymes from the class of the proteases, lipases and amylases, which may be obtained from animal and vegetable origin, for example, from digestive ferments or yeast, such as pepsin, pancreatin, trypsin, papain, catalase, and diastase. Preferably enzymic active substances are obtained from strains of bacteria or fungi, such as Bacillus subtilis and Streptomyces griseus, which substances are relatively stable towards alkalis, per-compounds and anionic detergent substances and are not appreciably inactivated even at temperatures between 45 C. and 70 C.

The washing and cleaning agents may be present in liquid, pasty or solid form, for example, pulverulent, granulated or lump form. For better solubility, liquid preparations may contain solvents miscible with water, especially ethanol and isopropanol, as well as solution aids such as the alkali metal salts of benzene-, toluene-, xyleneor ethylbenzene-sulfonic acids. Skin protecting substances, such as fatty acid monoand di-alkylolamides may be added to the rinsing and cleaning agents intended for manual use.

The composition of the invention may also contain dyes and perfumes, bactericides, restoring compounds as well as fillers such as urea.

Textile softener compositions according to the invention contain primarily alkali metal polyphosphates such as sodium or potassium polyphosphates, for example, pentasodium triphosphate, hexasodium tetraphosphate and their mixtures with polyphosphates of the formula where n represents a while number from to 20, and also sodium or potassium metaphosphates, such as sodium trimetaphosphate, sodium tetrametaphosphate, and sodium polymetaphosphates of the formula (NaPO3) where m represents a whole number from 5 to 30. The condensed phosphates may optionally be completely or partially replaced by the complexing agents from the class of aminopolycarboxylic acids, alkanediphosphonic acids, hy+ droxyalkanediphosphonic acids, and aminoalkanepolyphosphonic acids, or their alkali metal salts.

The above described washing, cleansing, and softening compositions may optionally contain, in addition to the foam inhibitors of the invention, other known foam inhibitors, such as saturated fatty acids with 20 to 24 carbon atoms or their alkali metal salts, paraffins, higher molecular weight fatty acid esters or triglycerides or trialkylmelamines. Such additions may often have a synergistic effect.

The qualitative and quantitative composition of the cleaning, bleaching, or complexing ingredients, apart from the foaming inhibitors, is largely dependent upon the particular application of the compositions and corresponds in the case of technically especially important washing and cleansing compositions to the following recipe (data in percent by weight):

1% to 40% of at least one compound from the class of the anionic, nonionic, and amphoteric surface-active compounds,

to 80% of at least one non-surface-active cleaning or complexing builder salt,

10% to 50% of a pre-cornpound, especially sodium perborate, with or without crystalline water, as well as their mixtures with stabilizers and activators,

0.1% to other auxiliary and supplementary washing agent compounds.

The surface-active compounds can consist of up to 100%, preferably from 5% to 70%, of compounds of the sulfonate and/or the sulfate type, up to 100%, preferably from 5% to 40% of nonionic compounds of the polyglycolether type and up to 100%, preferably from 10% to 50% of soaps. The builder salts can consist of up to 100%, preferably 25% to 95% of alkali metal triphosphates and their mixtures with alkali metal pyrophosphates, up to 100%, preferably 5% to 50% of an alkali metal salt of a complexing compound from the class of polyphosphonic acids, nitrilotriacetic, acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and their alkali metal salts, and up to 100%, preferably from 5% to 75% of at least one compound of the class of alkali metal silicates, alkali metal carbonates and alkali metal borates.

To the additional auxiliary and supplementary washing agent compounds belong, in addition to the optical brighteners, especially enzymes which can be present in an amount of up to 5%, preferably from 0.2% to 3%, and the additional anti-greying compounds which can be present in an amount of up to 5%, preferably from 0.2% to 3%.

The following specific embodiments are illustrative of the practice of the invention. They are not, however, to be deemed limitativc in any respect.

8 EXAMPLES A few compositions are given below which have proved especially good in practice. The invention is not restricted to the following mixtures, however, and these can be varied in many ways or be supplemented by the additional washing agent substances mentioned in the description.

The sulfate and sulfonate basic surface-active washing components and soaps are generally used as the sodium salts although other alkali metal salts may be employed. If liquid prepartions are used, the anionic detergent substances may advantageously be used in the form of the mono-, dior tri-ethanolammonium salts.

(l) Pulverulent, weakly foaming washing agent 3% to 15% of sulfonate basic surface-active washing component from the class of alkylbenzene sulfonates, olefin sulfonates and n-alkanesulfonates,

0.5% to 5% of alkylpolyglycol ethers (C to C -alkyl) or alkylphenolpolyglycol ethers (C to C -alkyl), with 5 to 10 ethylene glycol ether groups,

0 to 5% of soap (C to C 0.2% to 5% of the anti-foaming agents of the invention as well as their mixtures with saturated fatty acids or their alkali metal soaps, containing 20 to 24 carbon atoms,

10% to 50% of a condensed alkali metal phosphate from the clas of pyroand tri-phosphates,

0.1% to 25% of sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate or sodium nitrilotriacetate.

1% to 5% of sodium silicate,

10% to 35% of sodium perborate tetrahydrate,

0 to 5% of enzymes,

0.05% to 1% of at least one optical brightener from the class of the diaminostilbenedisulfonic acid derivatives, or the diarylpyrazole derivatives,

0.1% to 30% of an inorganic salt from the class of the carbonates, bicarbonates, borates, sulfates and chlorides of alkali metals,

0% to 4% of magnesium silicate,

0.5 to 3% of sodium celluloseglycollate.

(2) Mechanical dishwashing agent 0.1% to 5% of compounds of the class of alkylpolyglycol ether (C to C -alkyl) or alkylphenolpolyglycol ether (C to C -alkyl) with 5 to 30 ethyleneglycol ether groups and 5 to 30 propyleneglycol ether groups, and ethoxylated polypropyleneglycols 0.1% to 5% of the anti-foaming agents of the invention 45% to of pentasodium triphosphate 1% to 40% of sodium silicate (Na 0:SiO =1:1 to 1:3),

0 to 5% of potassium dichloroisocyanurate,

0 to 2% of other anti-foaming agents.

(3) Alkaline cleaning and bottle washing agent 0.1% to 5% of the anti-foaming agents of the invention 0.5% to 50% of sodium silicate (Na O:SiO =1:l to 1:3) 0.5% to 80% of sodium hydroxide 0 to 40% of trisodium phosphate 0 to 40% of condensed alkali phosphates 0 to 40% of sodium carbonate 0 to 10% of hydroxyethane diphosphonate (sodium salt) 0 to 5% of anionic and/or nonionic surface-active compounds.

(4) Softening agents 0.1% to 5% of anti-foaming agents of the invention 20% to of pentasodium triphosphate 0 to 70% of a polyphosphate of the formula Na P O 71:4 to 20 0 to 40% of sodium hexametaphosphate 0 to 20% of sodium carbonate 0 to 5% of sodium sulfate 9 EXAMPLES 1 TO 28 The washing agents listed in Table II were used. The numerical data is in percent by weight. The sulfonate washing ingredients and the soaps were used as sodium salts. The a-SlllfO fatty esters are methyl ester of a hydrogenated tallow fatty acid, sulfonated in the a-position to the ester group. The abbreviations are:

NTA=Sodium nitrilotriacetate EDTA=Sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate CMC=Sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose E=Ethylene oxide groups The diiference to 100% by weight of the washing agents consisted in a mixture of the foam inhibitor and sodium sulfate, which was admixed to the washing agents as a dry powder. The composition and the percentage amount of the foam inhibitor, based on the total amount of washing agents can be found in Table I.

The foaming behavior was tested in a commercial, fully-automated washing machine with a horizontal drum while varying the washing liquor temperature as indicated. The machine was equipped with a round sightwindow through which the foam level could be observed. The following notations were used for the evaluation of the foam height.

Notation maximum height of the foam level (0) No foam (1) A of the sight-window (2) /2 of the sight-window (3) of the sight-window (4) A of the sight-window (5) Foam visible in the filler tube (6) Foaming over The Washing machine was loaded with 3 kgm. of clean laundry. The concentration of the washing agent was 5 gm./1iter. The weight ratio of textiles to washing liquor was 1:15. The hardness of the water was expressed in German degrees of hardness (1 dH corresponds to 1 mgm. CaO in 100 ml. water). The foam behavior is reported in Table IH.

In the absence of a foam inhibitor, foaming-over of the washing liquor occurred in all temperature ranges.

TABLE III Wasl1- Foam notation mg Foam Hardness, Ex. agent inhibitor dH 30 50 70 90 o H 1 K L 23 2O 24 25-.- 26 }M EXAMPLES 29 TO 41 In the following examples, mixtures of pure trioctadecyl isocyanurate (S and di-N,N'-octadecylurea (S were used. The examples were carried out in the same way as in the preceding examples by use of washing agent Formula E (Table II). The water hardness was 16 dH. The amount of the mixture of foam inhibitors was 3.5% by weight. The results are summarized in the following Table IV (8 :5 in weight ratios).

EXAMPLES 42 TO 48 In the following examples, mixtures of trialkyl isocyanurates and dialkylureas, prepared together, were used. The mixture, designated Was obtained by heating 1 mol of urea and 2 mols of monooctadecylamine for 6 n-Alkane sultonate (015/11) a-Sulfo fatty acid ester Alkylpolyglycolether (9E0) Nonlyphenolpolyglycolether (9E O) Soap G g-C15 Soap C -C22 H Pentasodium triph 40. 0 40. 0 40. 0 'letrasodium pyrophosphat 5. 0 5. 0 5. 0 Sodium silicate (NBzO:S1OF 4. 0 4. 0 4. 0 4. 0 Magnesium silicate 2. 5 2. 5 2. 5 2. 5 Sodium carbonate. 10. 0 sogiirm perborate. 25% 25. 0 25. 0 25. 0 ED'IA- 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 CMC 1. 0 1. 0 1. 0 1.0 1. 0 Enzyme concentrate 0. 5 0. 5 0. 5 0. 5 0. 5 Optical brighteners, dyes, pertumes.. s. 5 0.5 0. 5 0. 5 0. 5 Dttference to 7. 0 7. 0 8. 0 7. 0 8.0

hours at 185 C. The mixtures, designated by S to S was obtained by reaction of 1 mol of potassium cyanate with 1 mol of the used alkylhalide in dimethyl formamide. The alkyl groups contained in the compounds as well as the weight ratios of trialkyl isocyanurate to dialkylurea are summarized in the following Table V.

The mixtures were tested, as stated in Examples 29 to 41, by the use of the washing agent Formula E. (Table -II) The results are summarized in Table VI.

TABLE VI Foam notation Hardeners,

inhibitor 30 EiwSSuSw OJNWWOMF-tb HHHHNNM QOQOOOQ HHOOQH'N HNOHNNW EXAMPLES 49 TO 53 TABLE VIII-AMOUNT IN PERCENT BY WEIGHT Ingredient 49 50 51 52 Compound 55 0. 3 0. l5 0. 3 0.8 0. 5 Nan+2PuOan+11 With n 3. 95. 40. 0 7. 35. 0 35. 0

With n 4 to 9-- 4. 7 55. 0 9. 0 15. 0 15. 0

With 11 to 20. 4. 5 65. 0 Sodium hexametaphosphate 30. 5 NTA. 10 so dum silicate (NaiO:Si0i= 10 Sodium earbonatm; 2. 2 15. 0 Sodium sulfate 16.0 29. 2 4. 0

The preceding specific embodiments are illustrative of the practice of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that other expedients known to those skilled in the art may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. Low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions consisting essentially of (A) from 90% to 99.9% by weight of active compounds selected from the group consisting of cleaning compounds and complexing compounds, said active compounds being from 0 to 40% of at least one surface-active compound selected from the group consisting of anionic, non-ionic and amphoteric surfaceactive compounds, from 10% to 100% of at least one builder compound selected from the group consisting of non-surface-active cleaning builder salts and complexing builder salts, and from 0 to 50% of an active-oxygen percompound, and (B) from 0.1% to 10% by weight of a foam inhibitor selected from the group consisting of (1) at least one foam-inhibiting isocyauurate of the formula wherein R R and R are members having 8 to 30 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkylcycloalkyl and alkylphenyl and (2) mixtures of said at least one foam-inhibiting isocyauurate with at least one alkylated urea of the formula R4 0 Rs wherein R and R are members having 8 to 30 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkylcycloalkyl and al kylphenyl, and R and R are members selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydrocarbonyls having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkylcycloalkyl and alkylphenyl, the weight ratio of said foam-inhibiting isocyanurate and said alkylated urea in said mixture being from 100:1 to 1:100.

2. The low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions of claim 1 wherein said foam inhibitor is said at least one foam-inhibiting isocyanurate.

3. The low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions of claim 1 wherein said foam inhibitor is said at least one foam-inhibiting isocyanurate in admixture with said at least one alkylated urea.

4. The low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions of claim 1 wherein R R and R are members selected from the group consisting of alkyl having 12 to 24 carbon atoms and alkenyl having 12 to 24 carbon atoms.

5. The low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions of claim 1 wherein R and R are members selected from the group consisting of alkyl having 12 to 24 carbon atoms and alkenyl having 12 to 24- carbon atoms and R and R are hydrogen.

6. The low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions of claim 1 wherein said foam inhibitor is present in an amount of from 0.2% to 5% by weight.

7. The low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions of claim 1 wherein said ingredient A contains from 1% to 40% by weight of said ingredient A of at least one surface-active compound selected from the group consisting of anionic, non-ionic and amphoteric surfaceactive compounds, from 10% to by weight of said ingredient A of builder compounds selected from the group consisting of non-surface-active cleaning builder salts and complexing builder salts, and from 10% to 50% by weight of said ingredient A of an active-oxygen percompound.

8. The low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions of claim 7 wherein said at least one surfaceactive compound consists of from 25% to 70% by weight of surface-active sulfonates and sulfates, from 5% to 40% of nonionic polyglycolethers and from 10% to 50% of soap.

9. The low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions of claim 7 wherein said builder compounds consist of from 25 to of alkali metal triphosphates and their mixtures with alkali metal pyrophosphates, from 5% to 50% of an alkali metal salt of a complexing compound selected from the group consisting of polyphos- 1 3 phonic acids, nitrilotriacetic acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and from 5% to 75% of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal silicates, alkali metal carbonates and alkali metal borates.

10. The low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions of claim 7 having a further content of from 0.2% to 3% by weight of said ingredient A of enzymes selected from the group consisting of proteases, lipases and amylases.

11. The low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions of claim 7 having a further content of from 0.2% to 3% by weight of said ingredient A of greying inhibitors.

12. The low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions of claim 7 having a further content of from 0.01% to 1.5% by weight of said ingredient A of optical brighteners.

13. The low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions of claim 7 having a further content of from to by weight of said ingredient A of foam inhibitors selected from the group consisting of saturated fatty acids having 20 to 24 carbon atoms and their alkali metal salts, parafiins, triglycerides of fatty acids and trialkylmelamines.

14. The low-foaming rinsing, washing and cleaning compositions of claim 1 wherein said ingredient A consists of cleaning and comple x i ng compounds selected from the group consisting of polyphosphates of the formula (n+2) n (3n+1) and metaphosphates of the formula wherein Me represents a metal ion selected from the group consisting of sodium and potassium, n represents an integer from 3 to 20 and m represents an integer from 5 to 30, sodium nitrilotriacetate, potassium nitrilotriacetate, sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate and potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 252-87, 99, 102, 110, 117, 358, 524, 542, DIG 1, DIG 10, DIG 11, DIG 12, DIG 14 

